Mowing machine



April 3. 1934. J. w. ROUNSAVELL MOWING MACHINE Filed Feb. 1, 1932 N WMW Patented Apr. 3, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

My invention relates to improvements in mowing machines and has for its object the production of such a machine in which provision is made for a resilient connection between its swath board 5 and sickle shoe with uplift of the board, whereby a yielding spring action between the parts so connected is effected.

The advantage effected by the connection is two-fold. It prevents breakage of the parts connected, to which mowing machines are liable when operated over broken or uneven ground, and also prevents, by its spring action, undue accumulation of cut grass upon the swath board and consequent overloading of the machine.

My invention is applicable to different types of mowing machines, of which one is illustrated, for

example.

In the accompanying drawing, which constitutes a part of this specification,

Figure I is a top plan View of the material parts of a mowing machine with my invention attached thereto.

Figure II is a side elevation of the subject matter of Figure I.

Referring to the numerals on the drawing, 1 indicates a shoe transversely through which is reciprocally actuated, by well known mechanism not necessary to illustrate, a sickle bar 2 of familiar type, whose teeth work in the usual manner through ways provided for them in fingers 4.

The shoe is pivotally united with uplifting effect thereupon to a swath board 5, by a yielding connection comprising a pivot pin 6. The swath board is provided with the usual operating handie '7.

My invention consists in a spring rod 8 which is preferably arcuate in shape, and is for the most part superposed above the swath board 5.

At one end, substantially, it is fixed to the side of the shoe 1, as by a clip 9 that is bolted or otherwise secured to the shoe. The end of the spring rod 8 opposite that fixed to the clip 9 is curved as indicated at 10, and is loosely connect- 60 ed, with lifting guiding effect, to an eyebolt 11 that is fastened to the side of the swath board 5.

In the travel of the machine, a yieldingly relatively oscillatory movement between the shoe 1 and the swath board 5 ensues, with the effect of permitting the movement of those members over the ground without breaking strain upon them to which the rigid construction is liable. Moreover, an up and down tedder-like action is imparted by said oscillatory movement to the spring rod 8 which effectually tends to dislodge and throw off the the cut grass as it falls athwart the swath board 5, thus keeping the machine clear of excess load.

The spring rod 8 functionates to lift, automatically, the rear of the grass or swath board 5 when the machine is backing or turning as well as at other times, thus preventing the board from being broken by catching, on the ground.

What I claim is:

In a mowing machine, the combination with a shoe, a swath board, a pivotal connection between the shoe and the board and a reciprocating sickle bar, of a board supported spring rod operatively disposed above the swath board and resiliently uniting said board and the shoe, said spring being fixed at one end to the shoe and loosely connected at its other end to the swath board, whereby a free spring-actuated mutual connection between the swath board and shoe with uplift of the board is effected.

JOSEPH WILLIAM ROUNSAVELL. 

